Are you getting confused between the Rider Waite Vs Smith Waite decks? Well, we will help you to find out the differences. Both are the traditional deck. They have the same meanings and have a difference in the printing process.
The Tarot deck tradition is ancient and goes back to the 15th century. The meaning of the cards has evolved from generation to generation and region to region. The two significant variations in Tarot decks are the Rider Waite and Smith Waite.
The Rider-Waite tarot deck was designed by artist Pamela Colman Smith in 1910 and published by William Rider & Son in 1911. The first tarot deck was printed in English and was the most popular until the 1980s when the Tarot Decks of Robert Wang and the Aquatic Tarot appeared and gained popularity in the USA and Europe. The deck is still in production by US Games Systems, which purchased the company in 1988.
Decks from the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition are the most popular among Tarot readers. They are typically known as the best deck to introduce beginners to the Tarot. Many of this tradition’s decks follow closely with Pamela Colman Smith’s original drawings. Key differences include:
Rider Waite Tarot Card
The Rider Waite tarot deck is a famous one on display at the British Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. It is the most iconic tarot deck in history and the most popular among English-speaking readers, with numerous books and websites referencing it. It has continued reprinting and marketing since some of the imagery has been updated.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- C. Smith, Pamela (Author)
Rider Waite is the most traditional and oldest deck that follows the archetypes images drawn initially by Ssmith’s hand. US Games first published this deck on January 01, 1971. It comes in the English language. Pamela Colman Smith initially fabricated the deck in 1909 under the direction of author Arthur Edward Waite. It weighs 7.8 ounces and has a dimension of 4.9*2.9*1.2 inches.
Read:- Best Rider Waite Tarot Deck Review
Pros:
- The deck is heavy, thick, and of high quality.
- The cards are vibrant and have original artwork.
- The cards are sturdy, and its small booklet provides all the informative information.
Cons:
- They have a slight depiction of printing quality.
- The booklet lacks valuable information.
Smith Waite Tarot Card
The Smith-Waite Tarot Deck is one of the most popular tarot card decks. The deck featured colourful and vibrant images of the major and minor arcana. The major arcana cards don’t have any suits. The major arcana cards also have titles and numbers on them. The little arcana cards are divided into four cases. A different symbol represents each suite. The Minor Arcana cards are numbered from one to ten.
- Colman Smith, Pamela (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Smith’s Waite deck is the faithful reproduction of the original deck. It is a reedition deck to Commemorate Pamela Colman Smith. US Games first published this deck on September 20, 2013. It comes in the English Language. It weighs 15.2 ounces and has a dimension of 3*1.25*5 inches.
Pros:
- This is a sturdy deck and comes large.
- The card stock is excellent and sturdy and comes with a matte finish.
- The card has an antique design that gives a vintage look.
- The cards are soft and are easy to shuffle.
Cons:
- There is a printed quality issue need to check it while buying.
Review of the Differences Between Rider Waite & Smith Waite
There is a subtle difference between the two decks though they have the same structures and symbols. Both the decks are sturdy, easy to shuffle, and provide each card interpretation. It just has a slight difference in design.
The Rider Waite deck comes with a full yellow colour, but the Smith Waite deck comes with a muted colour.
The Rider Waite deck comes in a simple pale design with clear images. On the other hand, Smith Waite comes in an antique design.
The back of the Rider Waite deck has a Gradient design, and Smith Waite doesn’t have a gradient design.
Smith Waite features a pictorial scene, and Rider Waite features depict full scenes with figures and symbols.
The Rider Waite deck is not soft but glossy. On the other hand, the Smith Waite deck is soft but doesn’t have any gloss.
The Ride Waite deck has 56 pages, and Smith Waite has 84.
Finale Verdict
So, we hope you have the differences between the rider Waite and Smith decks. Both have the same theme, but the colour and design are different. We suggest you select any of the decks you want in considering both the deck. Both are perfect in features and provide all the information. But in the case of the colours and design, Smith Waite is better than the rider Waite. Unlike the dull, attractive yellow colour, go with the Rider Waite deck if you want a classy design.
Happy shopping.
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Last update on 2024-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API